Great news to start the year!

The Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation is proud to announce the six awardees of the 2020 edition of the “$1 Million to improve care” competition. Launched in January 2020, this competition provides financial support for projects aiming to improve the quality of care and educational programs of breast cancer in Quebec. This grant is made possible in part thanks to the support of National Bank, the Foundation’s Main Partner. The Foundation is investing close to $1 million to support six health experts in Quebec whose work will revolutionize the care of people with breast cancer by improving their quality of life and patient experience.

The Foundation is investing close to $1 million to support six health experts in Quebec whose work will revolutionize the care of people with breast cancer by improving their quality of life and patient experience.

“$1 Million to improve care” is an initiative of the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation’s Support and Education Fund, which was established in 2014 to improve breast cancer care and education in the province of Quebec. More than $7 million have been invested so far in this program to permit the accomplishment of 30 projects targeting different aspects of breast cancer care.

Find out more about the six winners

Dr. Léamarie Meloche-Dumas, Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal / Dr. Jean-François Boileau, Jewish General Hospital / Dr. Erica Patocskai, CHUM

Project: Sentinel lymph node and targeted axillary dissection in patients with breast cancer

One in seven women with breast cancer undergoes unnecessary axillary dissection, a surgical procedure that causes morbidities such as lymphedema and loss of sensation in the forearm. The study of Doctors Meloche-Dumas, Boileau and Patocskai aims to reduce these morbidities related to surgical treatment of breast cancer through a new intraoperative guidance technique.

Budget: $200,000

Dr. Julie Lemieux, Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec

Project: A mobile app to monitor and manage side effects associated with oral antineoplastic treatments

Oral chemotherapy and new targeted therapies taken orally at home sometimes cause side effects, such as fatigue, diarrhea and skin reactions. This pilot project, led by Dr. Julie Lemieux, will provide people taking these drugs with a mobile app that will help them better understand and manage their side effects.

Budget: $199,814

Dr. Sylvie Lambert, St. Mary’s Research Centre

Project: e-IMPAQc, a symptom detection program delivered using a mobile application

Under the leadership of Dr. Sylvie Lambert and Rosanna Faria, e-IMPAQc offers people with breast cancer questionnaires on their cell phones, prior to their medical visit, to identify the severity of their symptoms. A report is then transferred to the treating clinician to adapt the care provided according to the patient’s responses. Patients also receive a report to facilitate symptom management, which is supported by educational materials tailored to their needs.

Budget: $199,970

Prof. Angelo Tremblay, Université Laval

Project: Virtual intervention to promote healthy lifestyles

Prof. Angelo Tremblay’s project focuses on promoting healthy eating and physical activity among people with breast cancer. Professor Tremblay and his team will develop a web platform to offer the services of family doctors, kinesiologists and nutritionists.

Budget $199,500

Dr. Sarkis Meterissian, McGill University Health Centre

Project: Determining the impact of a life coach on returning to active life after breast cancer

After treatment, breast cancer patients can find it difficult to navigate the physical and psychological recovery period. They often feel left to their own devices. Doctor Meterissian and his team will study the impact a life coach can have for people dealing with post-treatment challenges, such as anxiety, going back to work and sexuality.

Budget: $109,374

Dr. Paquito Bernard, Université du Québec à Montréal

Project: Adapted physical activity for patients reporting major emotional distress

Up to 35% of breast cancer patients experience a severe form of emotional distress. However, to date, no adapted physical activity (APA) intervention has been specifically developed for people with breast cancer experiencing this kind of distress. This project therefore aims to evaluate the effects of an APA intervention on the symptoms of anxiety and depression and the sleep patterns of patients reporting emotional distress.

Budget: $68,700

All these promising projects will be developed over the next 2 years.